Segment and Geographic Area Information (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC AREA INFORMATION: [Abstract]

Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]

The following tables set forth the Company's North American & European Operations and Australian Operations for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 (dollars in thousands):

	December 31, 2013
	North American & European Operations		Australian Operations		Total Operations
Operating revenues	$	1,243,847	$	325,164	$	1,569,011
Income from operations	$	284,122	$	96,066	$	380,188
Depreciation and amortization	$	114,542	$	27,102	$	141,644
Interest expense	$	52,740	$	15,154	$	67,894
Interest income	$	3,631	$	340	$	3,971
Provision for income taxes	$	24,038	$	22,258	$	46,296
Expenditures for additions to property & equipment, net of grants from outside parties	$	163,545	$	51,860	$	215,405

	December 31, 2012
	North American & European Operations		Australian Operations		Total Operations
Operating revenues	$	585,893	$	289,023	$	874,916
Income from operations	$	115,387	$	74,935	$	190,322
Depreciation and amortization	$	50,156	$	23,249	$	73,405
Interest expense	$	45,996	$	16,849	$	62,845
Interest income	$	3,219	$	506	$	3,725
Contingent forward sale contract mark-to-market expense	$	50,106	$	—	$	50,106
Provision for income taxes	$	28,451	$	17,951	$	46,402
Income from equity investment in RailAmerica, net	$	15,557	$	—	$	15,557
Expenditures for additions to property & equipment, net of grants from outside parties	$	69,636	$	122,426	$	192,062

	December 31, 2011
	North American & European Operations		Australian Operations		Total Operations
Operating revenues	$	557,621	$	271,475	$	829,096
Income from operations	$	129,646	$	62,133	$	191,779
Depreciation and amortization	$	47,218	$	19,263	$	66,481
Interest expense	$	23,171	$	15,446	$	38,617
Interest income	$	2,950	$	293	$	3,243
Provision for income taxes	$	26,181	$	12,350	$	38,531
Expenditures for additions to property & equipment, net of grants from outside parties	$	59,383	$	96,643	$	156,026

Property and Equipment by Segment [Table Text Block]

The following table sets forth the property and equipment recorded in the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 (dollars in thousands):

	December 31, 2013						December 31, 2012
	North American & European Operations		Australian Operations		Total Operations		North American & European Operations		Australian Operations		Total Operations
Property & equipment, net	$	2,883,452	$	557,292	$	3,440,744	$	2,766,693	$	629,602	$	3,396,295

Operating Revenues by Geographic Area [Table Text Block]

Operating revenues for each geographic area for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 were as follows (dollars in thousands):

	2013				2012				2011
	Amount		% of Total		Amount		% of Total		Amount		% of Total
Operating revenues:
United States	$	1,083,773	69.1	%	$	489,157	55.9	%	$	478,511	57.7	%
Non-United States:
Australia	$	325,164	20.7	%	$	289,023	33.0	%	$	271,475	32.7	%
Canada	145,399		9.3	%	81,948		9.4	%	64,155		7.8	%
Europe	14,675		0.9	%	14,788		1.7	%	14,955		1.8	%
Total Non-United States	$	485,238	30.9	%	$	385,759	44.1	%	$	350,585	42.3	%
Total operating revenues	$	1,569,011	100.0	%	$	874,916	100.0	%	$	829,096	100.0	%

Property and Equipment by Geographic Area [Table Text Block]

Property and equipment for each geographic area as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 were as follows (dollars in thousands):

	2013				2012
	Amount		% of Total		Amount		% of Total
Property and equipment located in:
United States	$	2,602,640	75.7	%	$	2,487,782	73.2	%
Non-United States:
Australia	$	557,292	16.2	%	$	629,602	18.5	%
Canada	265,933		7.7	%	263,828		7.8	%
Europe	14,879		0.4	%	15,083		0.5	%
Total Non-United States	$	838,104	24.3	%	$	908,513	26.8	%
Total property and equipment, net	$	3,440,744	100.0	%	$	3,396,295	100.0	%